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Pianist George Li Wins Gilmore Young Artists Award

Last fall, we were thrilled to get the news that George Li had won the Young Concert Artists award, a major step in any musician's career. Now, following in the footsteps of other pianists such as Jonathan Biss, Yuja Wang, Orli Shaham, and Christopher Taylor, he's won the Gilmore Young Artist Award.

The Gilmore Young Artist Award is presented every two years to exceptionally promising pianists who are currently citizens or permanent residents of the United States. These pianists must be under the age of 22 as of January 1, 2011. Between 1990 and 2010, 26 remarkable young pianists received the Gilmore Young Artist Award. Two new Gilmore Young Artists will be named in 2012. Each musician receives a $15,000 grant to further his or her music education and/or career development, as well as a commission for a new solo piano work worth up to $10,000.

Nominations are made by leaders in the field of music, and nominees are not told of their inclusion in this noncompetitive selection process. Final decisions are made by the director of The Gilmore and an anonymous Artistic Advisory Committee.

The philosophy of noncompetition is a tribute to Mr. Gilmore, who spent his wealth on others – particularly pianists – quietly and without fanfare.

Congratulations again, George!

Here is a performance George gave at the Walnut Hill School on May 13 of this year.

And here is a performance George gave in our Fraser Performance Studio in 2008